CVE-2022-41807 in TASKalfa
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2022
Missing authorization vulnerability exists in Kyocera Document Solutions MFPs and printers, which may allow a network-adjacent attacker to alter the product settings without authentication by sending a specially crafted request. Affected products/versions are as follows: TASKalfa 7550ci/6550ci, TASKalfa 5550ci/4550ci/3550ci/3050ci, TASKalfa 255c/205c, TASKalfa 256ci/206ci, ECOSYS M6526cdn/M6526cidn, FS-C2126MFP/C2126MFP+/C2026MFP/C2026MFP+, TASKalfa 8000i/6500i, TASKalfa 5500i/4500i/3500i, TASKalfa 305/255, TASKalfa 306i/256i, LS-3140MFP/3140MFP+/3640MFP, ECOSYS M2535dn, LS-1135MFP/1035MFP, LS-C8650DN/C8600DN, ECOSYS P6026cdn, FS-C5250DN, LS-4300DN/4200DN/2100DN, ECOSYS P4040dn, ECOSYS P2135dn, and FS-1370DN.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical authorization bypass flaw in Kyocera multifunction printers and document solutions devices that exposes organizations to significant operational and security risks. The issue stems from insufficient access controls within the device's network interface, allowing attackers positioned within the same network segment to manipulate device configurations without proper authentication. This misconfiguration enables unauthorized modification of critical printer settings, potentially compromising document security, network access controls, and overall device functionality. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Kyocera models spanning multiple product lines including TASKalfa series, ECOSYS printers, and various MFP models, indicating a systemic flaw in the device firmware architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of weak authentication mechanisms within the device's web-based management interface and network protocols. An attacker can craft and transmit specially formatted network requests that bypass the standard authorization checks, effectively gaining administrative privileges to modify device configurations. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for spearphishing via social engineering. The vulnerability operates at the network layer where the device fails to properly validate the identity of incoming requests before executing configuration changes, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by any network-adjacent attacker with basic knowledge of the device's API structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes and can result in severe consequences for enterprise environments. Unauthorized modification of printer settings can lead to document interception, altered print queues, compromised print job routing, and potential data exfiltration through misconfigured network access controls. Organizations may experience disruptions to their printing infrastructure, increased risk of sensitive document exposure, and potential compliance violations if audit trails are modified or compromised. The vulnerability also enables attackers to potentially establish persistent access points within the network, as printer devices often maintain long-running network connections and may be overlooked during routine security assessments. Network segmentation benefits are undermined when devices lack proper access controls, allowing attackers to move laterally within the network environment.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing network-level controls and device-specific security measures to address this authorization bypass vulnerability. Organizations must immediately apply firmware updates provided by Kyocera to resolve the authentication flaw, while also implementing network segmentation to isolate printing devices from critical network segments. Access controls should be enforced through proper network access control lists and firewall rules that restrict unauthorized access to printer management interfaces. Device hardening measures including disabling unnecessary network services, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and regular security audits are essential. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual configuration changes or unauthorized access attempts to printer devices, while security awareness training should emphasize the importance of securing peripheral devices that often receive less attention than main network servers. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing device management solutions that can enforce consistent security policies across all printer devices in their network infrastructure.